Drinkers urged to have Dry January

A charity is urging Britons to stop drinking for the whole of January to avoid more than 4.5 million working days being lost to hangovers.

PUBLISHED: 00:14, Fri, Nov 9, 2012
| UPDATED: 07:44, Fri, Nov 9, 2012

Alcohol Concern is challenging drinkers to refrain for the whole of January [PA]

Alcohol Concern has issued its Dry January challenge to drinkers on the back of statistics estimating that around 200,000 people go to work with a hangover every day, costing the economy around £6.4 billion every year.

The campaign follows the charity's Alcohol Harm Map which found that the biggest drain on NHS resources were baby boomers rather than young binge drinkers.

The charity hopes those taking part will use it "as an opportunity to ditch the hangover, reduce their waistline, save some pennies and take time to think about whether their drinking is really working for them".

Alcohol Concern spokeswoman Emily Robinson said: "Many of us think the way we drink isn't a problem, but even having just a few beers after work or a few glasses of wine at home too often can take you over safe limits and store up problems for the future.

"We're challenging people to take part in Dry January and try giving up booze for 31 days, and if it sounds like a big ask you're exactly the person we want to join us and have a go.

"We're not being killjoys or telling people to never drink again. We just think this provides the perfect opportunity for all of us to take a breather and get thinking about our drinking."